The Promises of Giants: How YOU can fill the leadership void --THE SUNDAY TIMES HARDBACK NON-FICTION & BUSINESS BESTSELLER--

Product Information

An instantly engaging and very personal approach to understanding his analysis of life and personal development. The author John Amaechi is a former NBA player turned psychologist and management consultant. Being 6'10" tall and bulky, John is considered as a giant. As a giant, even the slightest swing of your arm or jerk of your elbow can give an unsuspecting passerby a bloody nose. Hence giants need to be extremely cautious and mindful of even the slightest move they make. Leaders are like giants - and need to be so by choice. Every behavior of theirs has huge impact on people around them - their words, their body language, their actions, decisions etc. So like giants, leaders need to be cautious and self-aware of every behavior of theirs. And leaders can do so by making certain promises to uphold certain leadership principles. In this book, John takes us through 14 such promises. From socio-political chaos and workplace disruption to the climate change crisis, we have never needed people with the skill and will to collaborate to create a better world more than now. We need people who are willing to fill the leadership void. People who will embrace the influence they have. People who believe in improving society and workplace culture - not only because it makes life better, but because it is proven to yield positive results. We need more leaders. It will feel risky and at times even frightening, but the potential rewards are immense and there for the taking. If we can approach life with the courage and enthusiasm of that eager child who is unashamed of their dreams, we lift the ceiling on creativity, innovation, accountability, compassion, and resiliency. Genre Audiobooks Buy THE PROMISES OF GIANTS by John Amaechi OBE, read by John Amaechi OBE - audiobook extract

The Promises of Giants: How YOU can fill the leadership void

Amaechi’s name wasn’t the only thing that changed when he was eleven. He also started school in an area outside his hometown. A lot of kids find changing schools rough, but for Amaechi, it was devastating. John Amaechi well understands the responsibilities and potential that come with being a giant. The Promises of Giants is the product of a lifetime spent observing and studying effective leadership - from accompanying his mother's visits to her dying patients to competing at the highest levels of professional sport, through two decades of management consulting with multinational corporations. These experiences have shown that everyone has the ability to act decisively to influence the world in a positive way. Everyone is a giant to someone. But Amaechi turned it down. The Magic gave him something he valued more than money and fame – a team in the truest sense. Everyone working for the organization – from management to support personnel – was committed to trust, psychological safety, and individual agency. Amaechi knew these qualities foster success. But more important than success, Amaechi felt he truly belonged to the Magic family, and that was a source of deep joy. He couldn’t give that up for any amount of money. Amaechi’s dream of becoming a pro basketball player came true when he secured a spot on NBA team the Cleveland Cavaliers. After playing a season with them, and a few more overseas, Amaechi joined the Orlando Magic – a fringe playoff team. Then, in the year 2000, the Los Angeles Lakers tried to recruit him. They offered him millions more dollars than the Magic, and the chance to play for a team on its way to the championships. On paper, it was the offer of a lifetime. But that’s bunkum. That’s not how it works. The most lasting interactions are seldom planned, and you will rarely know which will be the most consequential. Think about your own life and career, and you’ll see that this is true. When we reflect on mentors or managers who’ve inspired and shaped us, we rarely think first of their performance in formal or familiar situations—the sales meeting speech or the annual performance review. We remember how they treated us in everyday moments or unexpected periods of strife.But, as Uncle Ben warned, with great power comes great responsibility. The onus of being a giant is unyielding. It requires vigilance from the second you begin your morning commute. We are predisposed to believe in pivotal moments—the idea that we will be able to predict and prepare for the most significant events and interactions. We’ll see these moments as they approach at a measured pace. Some will even be booked in our calendars well in advance. And because we were ready and recognized the importance of the moment, we will handle it with aplomb, give a textbook response—we’ll be amazing. The Promises of Giants is a leadership book comprising 14 chapters (each one a promise) and a few supplementary sections. It's aimed at those already in leadership roles and those who aspire to be leaders in the future. So, really it's fairly universal. A recommended book for leaders looking to upgrade themselves them from leading topics and teams to taking ownership of setting up the mindset, behavior and culture of organizations. Determined to be an NBA star even if it meant giving up pie, teenage Amaechi hit the gym. He also wrote letters to coaches at American high schools. His sports prowess wasn’t impressive – yet. But he knew that if he spent a year in an American high school he’d improve his skills, giving him a better chance of being recruited by a college that would lead to the NBA. Unique book with an interesting approach! A compelling combination of using research/theory, but through the lens of Dr. Amaechi’s experiences to create promises that leaders ought to make to others.

The Promises of Giants | John Amaechi | Soundview Book Summary The Promises of Giants | John Amaechi | Soundview Book Summary

You can’t be a “conditional” giant. It would be brilliant if you could, because being a giant has obvious advantages. The appearance of having power alone feels pretty great for most people. The fact that this appearance is often accompanied by higher salaries, prestigious titles, and increased resources? All the better. Users who like THE PROMISES OF GIANTS by John Amaechi OBE, read by John Amaechi OBE - audiobook extract Streamlining the "business buying process" for entrepreneurs, investors, and success-minded professionals Firstly, when you’re a giant, you commit to a journey of deep, thorough, and continually developing self-knowledge. Being armed with this knowledge puts you in a position to develop strategies that will help you achieve your goals.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL BOOKS EVER WRITTEN ABOUT LEADERSHIP. Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN and host of the TED podcast WorkLife